Flying

If you updated your cabin electronics more than a few weeks ago, it's probably already on the way to becoming outdated. That's how fast the technology is changing. For the latest in cabin-management systems, Internet connectivity and more, consult the manufacturers in this directory.

January 1, 2020—that’s the deadline set by the U.S. FAA for most aircraft to be equipped with position-locating equipment known as ADS-B Out (Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast Out). ADS-B lets an aircraft determine its position using GPS signals, then broadcasts this data periodically to air traffic control.

Delta Air Lines has taken significant steps toward introducing its elite airline fliers to the convenience and privacy of business jets. The carrier will now offer a business jet upgrade program for its “Medallion” frequent fliers (those who fly more than 25,000 miles annually on the airline).

These days, everyone in the aviation field talks about composite aircraft. Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is made mostly of carbon fiber composites, and the percentage of composite content in new business jet designs is on the rise. Over time, carbon fiber may, indeed, replace metal as the material of choice for aircraft. But how did we get here?

Before any business jet manufacturer delivers an airplane to a buyer, a lot of work goes into completing the cabin. To give you an idea of what that work involves, Business Jet Traveler visited Dassault’s completions center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Traveling with the airlines these days often means paying extra for a ho-hum sandwich and bag of chips, but mealtime can be the highlight of a private flight for foodies. The bizav caterers listed here offer a wide range of options, including many that compare to what you’d enjoy in the world’s finest restaurants.

Quote/Unquote

““Corporate executives should be your core business…You need [salespeople who are] comfortable with the kind of boardroom leaders that see Lear Jet as a tool, not a frivolous extravagance for movie stars and their pets.
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-Advertising executive Pete Campbell to a Lear Jet executive on the penultimate episode of TV’s Mad Men series, set in 1970